READ: Tinkler - Pirates must go all the way
The Buccaneers haven't had an off-season due to their exploits in the gruelling CAF competition, and Jele admits it hasn't been easy being taken through their paces while the PSL is still in recess.
"It has been very difficult," he says. "But we're trying our best to always be positive.
"You must remember that at the end of the season we didn't close. We kept on training but some of the guys that were not registered [before the group stages] were rested and now everyone is back in the team."
He adds: "We would get a break each every week that we trained. We would train on a Monday but not train on Tuesday because we don't want be fatigued as we're heading into a new season and the coach needs all of us in the team.
"We are fit. Some of the guys are still trying to get their fitness back but I think we're fine because [for other players] the fitness is still there."
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Pirates drew at home to Leopards but lost away as they finished second, behind Al Ahly, in the group stages of the 2013 CAF Champions League.
"They [Leopards] have new faces now, they have signed new players. When we watched their videos there are guys that I know there but it's going to be a different game and difficult to beat them at [their] home [ground]," Jele concludes.
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The Sea Robbers will face the Republic of Congo side at Denis Sassou Nguesso Stadium in Dolisie, with kick-off at 16h30 (SA time).
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